Fred l



(No Model.)

F. L. OHAPPELL. OLASP FOR SUPPORTING GARMENTS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

Witn ass as:

FRED L. CHAPPELL, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO THE FEATI-IERBONE CORSET COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP FOR SUPPORTING GARMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,930, dated January 2, 1894.

Application filed December 28,1892. Serial No. 466,537- (No model.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED L. GHAPP LL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Supporting Garments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clasps forsupportin g garments and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a clasp in which no metal will come in contact with the flesh of the wearer; second, to provide a clasp that holds by direct automatic pressure between thetwo parts; third, to provide a clasp that can be struck out by dies and so lessen the cost of construction. I accomplish these objects by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1, is a perspective view of my invention when not in use. Fig. 2, is an outside view of the same when in use. Fig. 3, is an inside View of the same when in use. Fig. 4, is a view of the tongue.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention consists of the tape A, in a loop of which is fastened the plate of metal B, having the key hole slot 71, and to the end of which is attached the tongue 0, by the cross piece a. The plate B, has a flat smooth portion 1", above the key hole opening. The enlarged part not the key hole opening is a little elongated and the narrow portion e opens down from-it. The tape A, is attached to a slot in the top of the plate B, and the end of the tape passes down behind the plate between it and the wearer. The lower end of the tape is divided and folded back over the cross bar to of the tongue 0, so that half goes on one side and half on the other of the shank t, thus completely covering that portion of the metal with the tape. The shank t of the tongue is bent up a little, near the cross bar a, and is enlarged into a small circular disk at the end.

To apply my invention a portion of the garment to be supported is placed between the plate B, and the tongue 0, when the tongue 0, is drawn back and forced against the garment through the enlarged portion n of the key hole opening and down so that the enlarged end i of the tongue 0, is on the outside of the plate B, the smooth portion 0' of the plate B, facilitating the operation by preventing friction. The tongue 0, will thus be in a fold of the garment that projects through the slot 6. The enlarged end of the tongue prevents it being Withdrawn from the fold and also from being drawn through the slot. It will thus be seen that any effort to pull the garment from the clasp will only tend to causes it to be held the tighter.

It will be seen on examining Fig. 3, that only a small part of the tongue 0, is visible and that is held away from the wearer by the folds of the garment D, the end of the tape A, and the folds of the garment B, being i all that touch the flesh of the wearer.

I am aware that clasps having a key hole slot have been used for this purpose so I do not claim that broadly, but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a garment supporter, the combination with the tape A, having a loop therein carrying a metal plate B, and having an opening 71, and a smooth portion 1" above said opening, and a tongue'C comprising the disk 11, bent shank t, and cross-bar u, said tongue being secured to the end of the tape and adapted to enter the opening in the plate, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED L. OHAPPELL. [n s] Witnesses:

OORA E. WESTBROOK, WM. G. HOWARD. 

